Anyone here use Linux?

[skygazer]

My computer is driving me crazy and my options at this point have narrowed down to 1) dumping everything and starting over with another version of Windows 2) installing Linux and running that or 3) smashing the thing with a crowbar and jumping up and down on the pieces.

It's infested with virus/spyware/adware and runs awful. An acquaintance who is a self-described "computer geek" suggested Linux and gave me the install disks for the Red Hat version. Thing is, I'm not real computer savvy and wonder if it might be too complicated for me to use.

If anyone is using it or has in the past, and if you can offer me any insight into it, I'd appreciate it.

[SoDesuKa]

1. Don't Use Red Hat

Red Hat is too complicated. Use SuSE, it's simpler.

Don't give up on Windows because of a few setbacks. Bill Gates needs the money.

[skygazer]

3. I would hate to deprive Bill

I'm still waffling on whether to give up entirely on Windows but I think I do need to dump and re-load which would require puchase since I don't have my startup disks.

Forgive my ignorance - SuSE is another version of Linux?

[cprise]

14. I'll second that

Don't use RedHat. That company is focused on servers.

I do recommend Xandros. They won't leave you in the lurch when you need popular items like RealPlayer, Flash, OEM video drivers. No nasty surprises when you try to do something as simple as print a document (printing is traditionally very difficult in Linux). Also, although I think SuSE is nice, the driver/hardware detection on it is relatively poor. OTOH Xandros is even better than Windows in this respect; I haven't seen anything match it.

Here is a review
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/zd/20040728/tc_zd/132394

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. OK. I do.

Don't go with Red Hat YET. You, as a n00b, are not ready for the installation. You want to do one of two things:

1. Get an easy-to-install distro and do it yourself. That's the merely OK option.

2. Better option is to find a Linux Users Group and get THEM to install a Linux Distro that is known to be kind to n00bs. That's the best option. Then go to some of their meetings, learn more about Linux, and make new friends with weird eating and sleeping habits.

Also, do not attempt this cold turkey: Get your XP partition cleaned up and rapaired. Install another drive. Install the Linux distro on that, in a dual-boot configuration, with a boot manager. You'll be glad you did, and you won't get totally frustrated.

Running Linux is one of the best computer decisions I ever made.

[skygazer]

4. Thank you!

This is what I'm looking for - advice that makes sense. Well, the good news is I'm out of work till November (one of those good news, bad news deals) so I have some time to learn and explore. Also, my eating and sleeping habits are wierd in the extreme so perhaps I'll fit right in.

Appreciate the help. I love DU!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. Another option: try a Linux that doesn't need installing

to get the hang of it: http://www.knopper.net/knoppix-info/index-en.html

[skygazer]

6. Cool. Thank you.

[Madrone]

7. I've found I prefer FreeBSD.

The ports collection is pretty awesome.




And, for you heterosexual guys or non-heterosexual ladies - FreeBSD has the "FreeBSD girls" that show up at events in skintight red vinyl outfits complete with devil horns and tail. :evilgrin:

[skygazer]

9. Well, I'm a heterosexual woman

but I'm sure my guy would appreciate the gals. Thanks.

[Madrone]

11. LOL

Yeah, I'm the same as you. I just figured I'd throw that out there as a possible tipping point :)

Anyway, BSD and Linux are fairly similar - but after working with BSD for awhile I prefer it.

The best "noob" linux distro that I've seen (and believe me, I've not seen them ALL - there are many) is Mandrake.

But I still vote for FreeBSD! :D

[Dob Bole]

8. I just got rid of Windows, installed Fedora Core 2

If you switch, there will be a few frustrating things at first:

1. The filesystem. There is no C: or A: or any of that (though I think Windows has just about done away with it too.)

2. Installing programs. You have to right-click on everything you download and enable permissions for it to install. This is good for virus protection, though- it's nearly impossible to get a virus on linux. Trojans were the reason for me dumping Windows.

3. Finding your Mozilla plugins directory.

Once you have solved these things, you're good.

[skygazer]

10. And thank you

I'm saving this thread - I really, really appreciate all the advice!

[Briarius]

12. Here's what I did

I was in your place about a year ago and here's what I did.
1) fresh re-install of windows using half of my hard drive. Partition about half for windows and half for linux if your HD is big enough. Otherwise pick up another HD for linux.
2) buy or burn the linux cds. I used Mandrake and have found it's fairly user friendly. If you are going to burn your own, get the iso's from someplace like www.linuxiso.org/ and burn them at like 8X or so to get a good disk( I had to do this to get my DVD drive to read the burned install disks). If you're going to buy, get the disks from ebay or something. You can pick up the cd's for under $20 if you don't get the official version.
3) use www.linuxhelp.net or ask cause you will have tons of questions of "how do I...?"
Good luck, let us know how things go!

[skygazer]

13. Cool, thank you

It's so frustrating dealing with the problems this thing has been having. I've been out of work since January (recovery from surgery) and I spend a LOT of time on the computer. Most of it is spent re-booting after it freezes up, closing pop ups and fixing the settings that have been re-set on me.

Appreciate the advice.

[lagniappe]

15. I use Linux (Sun Java Desktop) and OS X.

Like other posts I would probably recommend Mandrake. However, be prepared for some frustration. Linux is very hard to use if you don't have experience with Unix. Linux on the desktop is not quite ready for prime time but is very doable for adventurous types. Multimedia support is probably its biggest weakness. Often, I encounter video clips posted on DU or on some of the news sites that I cannot play. Of course, what Linux lacks in multimedia, it more than makes up for in security and stability. Say goodbye to viruses and spy-ware.

Someone else recommended that you get some help from a local user's group or from someone who is knowledgeable. This is a must. You should also get a really good book on Linux. Some of the documentation is really poor.

Also, I would strongly recommend you look at Mac OS X. I would use OS X full time if my job allowed it. It is very easy to use, has great multimedia support, and has a very elegant user interface. A Mac is expensive but worth it.